On Wednesday night, the Atlanta Braves were looking to do something no other team in either the National or American leagues has done this season. The Braves hadn’t lost a series this season.
The 2026 Atlanta Braves (12-7 overall) are finding ways to win. On Jackie Robinson Day, the Braves found a way to win 6-3 over NL East rivals Miami Marlins, but this time it was with the bats and on the pitcher’s mound. The victory secured the series and first place in the division.
“We’re playing well. I’m really pleased with where we’re at,” said Barves manager Walt Weiss after the game.
Wednesday’s starter, Bryce Elder and his 1.02 ERA, were back on the mound, and he got off to a good start to go along with some much-needed run support to boot. The Braves went ahead 2-0 in the second inning following a solo home run from Ozzie Albies and an RBI single to left field by Mauricio Dubon that scored Mike Yastrzemski from second base.
Yastrzemski has at least one hit in consecutive games, and for a player struggling at the plate, that is something to cheer about. Yaz is still hitting under .200, but has played stellar left field in place of a player who shall not be named.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Elder was cruising with seven strikeouts and no runs allowed through four innings. And then came a bit of trouble. The Marlins managed to have the bases loaded with one out following a double by Graham Pauley, a single by Deyvison De Los Santos, and a walk to the Marlins’ leadoff hitter, Jakob Marsee. Bases loaded, no problem. Elder got a 4-6-3 double play out of an Xavier Edwards at-bat to end the inning.
There’s something about this year’s team that refuses to lose games the same way they did last season. On Tuesday night, a 4-0 deficit early in the game would have tanked last year’s team. Not this year.
Elder left the game with two runners on base and two outs, but Dylan Dodd struck out Marlins left fielder Heriberto Hernandez to end the inning. Elder’s line: 5.2 IP, 7Ks, 2 walks, 4 hits, and 0 ERs.
“I’ve had a lot of good runs, and I’ve had a lot of bad runs,” said Elder about his career. Thus far this season, he’s on one of those good runs.
“I think this year there’s a simple feel. I really like where we’re at,” Elder said of the team’s start to the season.
Ahead 3-0 in the seventh inning, Atlanta tacked on three more runs courtesy of a Drake Baldwin single that scored Ronald Acuna, Jr. from second, and a two-run home run from Matt Olson. The home run was Olson’s fifth of the season.
Raisel Iglesias came on in the ninth to strike out three Marlins and earn the save.
Rough Go: Osvaldo Bido came into the game in the 8th and proceeded to implode. Bido gave up three hits and a walk, including a two-run home run to Liam Hicks, before the 30-year-old Dominican reliever left the game. He was responsible for all three runs the Marlins scored during the eighth inning.
What’s Next: The Braves are off on Thursday before heading to the East Coast for a pair of series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals. They will return to Truist Park for a three-game weekend series against the Phillies on April 24.
